fuls; but he would never touch it while the fervant ftaid, and at last, after it had tood perhaps an hour, would eat it walking; for he continued his old habit, and was on his feet ten hours a-day.

Next year (1742) he had an inflammation in his left eye, which swelled it to the fize of an egg, with boils in other parts; he was kept long waking with the pain, and was not eafily restrained by five attendants from tearing out his eye.

The tumour at laft fubfided; and a fhort interval of reafon enfuing, in which he knew his phyfician and his family, gave hopes of his recovery; but in a few days he funk into lethargick stupidity, motionlefs, heedlefs, and fpeech

lefs. But it is faid, that, after a year of total filence, when his houfekeeper, on the 30th of November, told him that the ufual bonfires and illuminations were preparing to celebrate his birthday, he anfwered, It is all felly; they had better let it alone.

It is remembered that he afterwards fpoke now and then, or gave fome intimation of a meaning; but at last funk into perfect filence, which continued till about the end of October 1744, when, in his feventy-eighth year, he expired without a ftruggle.

WHEN

WHEN Swift is confidered as an author, it is just to eftimate his powers by their effects. In the reign of Queen Anne he turned the ftream of popularity against the Whigs, and must be confeffed to have dictated for a time the political opinions of the English nation. In the fucceeding reign he delivered Ireland from plunder and oppreffion; and fhewed that wit, confederated with truth, had fuch force as authority was unable to refift. He faid truly of himself, that Ireland was his debtor. It was from the time when he first began to patronize the Irish, that they may

date their riches and profperity. He taught them first to know their own intereft, their weight, and their ftrength, them fpirit to affert that equa

and gave lity with their fellow-fubjects to which they have ever fince been making vigorous advances, and to claim those rights which they have at last established. Nor can they be charged with ingratitude to their benefactor; for they reverenced him as a guardian, and obeyed him as a dictator.

In his works, he has given very different fpecimens both of fentiment and expreffion. His Tale of a Tub has little refemblance to his other pieces. It exhibits a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copioufnefs of images, and vivacity

of

of diction, fuch as he afterwards never poffeffed, or never exerted. It is of a mode fo diftinct and peculiar, that it must be confidered by itself; what is true of that, is not true of any thing elfe which he has written.

He

In his other works is found an equable tenour of eafy language, which rather trickles than flows. His delight was in fimplicity. That he has in his works no metaphor, as has been faid, is not true; but his few metaphors feem to be received rather by neceffity than choice. studied purity; and though perhaps all his ftructures are not exact, yet it is not often that folecifms can be found; and whoever depends on his authority may generally conclude himfelf fafe. His fenF 3

tences